Profile of young people attending alcohol and other drug treatment services in Aotearoa, New Zealand: clinical file search.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to provide a profile of young people attending alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in Aotearoa, New Zealand.


METHODS
Data were gathered from a clinical file search of 184 randomly selected young people aged 13-19 years who had attended one of eight youth AOD treatment services in New Zealand during 2003 or 2004. These services represented eight of the 11 youth-specific AOD services available to youth in New Zealand.


RESULTS
Young people who attend youth-specific AOD services in New Zealand present with a range of complex needs including substance use and mental health issues, criminality, family conflict and disengagement from school. A total of 62.0% were male, 56.4% had criminal convictions, 40.6% had spent some time in Child, Youth and Family Services care and 53.8% were reported to have a coexisting substance use and mental health disorder. Low rates of reporting of substance use and mental health diagnoses in treatment files suggest that substance use and mental health disorders among this population are likely to be higher than those reported.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper provides a unique profile of young people attending youth-specific AOD treatments in New Zealand. Such information is useful in informing treatment planning and funding and ensuring that service development occurs to specifically meet the complex needs of this patient group.
Schroder
Ria
R
National Addiction Centre, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand. ria.schroder@otago.ac.nz
Sellman
Doug
D
Frampton
Chris
C
Deering
Daryle
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009520:New Zealand; D012307:Risk Factors; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014600:Utilization Review; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs